Gogo’s 2Ku Antenna Receives STC For Commercial Aircraft Installation
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APEX Insight: Gogo’s long-awaited 2Ku antenna, expected to be an in-flight connectivity game changer – offering 20 times more bandwidth than its air-to-ground solution, is one step closer to being installed on your next flight.
Gogo is on the last leg of realizing its 2Ku next-generation satellite solution for commercial airplanes. The connectivity company announced today that it has received its Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), clearing the dual-antenna for in-flight testing.
With the proliferation of connectivity-dependant systems for flight management, payment and in-flight entertainment, plus increasing passenger expectations for better coverage and faster Wi-Fi, demand for Gogo’s 2Ku antenna – which delivers peak speeds of over 70 Mbps to an aircraft – is hot, and there’s already a backlog of 500 aircraft from seven different airlines awaiting antenna installation.
“This is a significant milestone for Gogo and a seminal event for in-flight Internet.” – Anand Chari, Gogo
Two of those airlines are Virgin Atlantic and Aeroméxico which will launch 2Ku technology later this year. APEX has also reported that Air Canada, Japan Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are slated to adopt the technology. But prior to delivering any 2Ku solutions to commercial aircraft, Gogo will trial the antenna on its Boeing 737-500 test plane.
Bringing 20 times the bandwidth of Gogo’s original air-to-ground service in the US, the dual-antenna design enables an upward and downward data link that occur simultaneously, allowing passengers to experience higher connectivity speeds. For in-flight entertainment, this will mean a better quality images for various applications – but especially for Internet Protocol television (IPTV).
“This is a significant milestone for Gogo and a seminal event for in-flight Internet,” said Anand Chari chief technology officer and executive vice-president, Gogo. “We believe this will be the best performing technology for the global commercial aviation market bar none. Clearing this regulatory hurdle brings us one step closer to enabling our airline partners and their passengers to enjoy the future of in-flight Internet.”
For more APEX coverage on Gogo’s 2Ku satellites, click here.
